Lots of robotsA telepresence robot lets distant users to move about, mingle, and talk with people at remote gatherings. It's just one of many robotic technologies on display at the Rhode Island Robot Block Party.

Brown to host fourth annual Robot Block Party

From preschoolers to professors, thousands of attendees are expected on Sunday to check out robotic technologies developed in the Ocean State and beyond.

PROVIDENCE, R.I. [Brown University] — Robotic revelry returns to Brown University this weekend. On Sunday, April 30, Brown will host the annual Rhode Island Robot Block Party in the Pizzitola Sports Complex. The free, family-friendly event kicks off at 11 a.m. and runs through 4 p.m.

The event is a chance for children and adults to learn more about the robotic technologies being developed in the Ocean State and beyond. More than 50 exhibitors will be there with demonstrations and hands-on activities with robots used in research, education, work and play.

Brown roboticists will demonstrate technologies for operating robots remotely via virtual reality, robotic telepresence devices, autonomous drones and robots programmed to operate collaboratively with human co-workers. A team from the University of Rhode Island will demonstrate robots used for ocean exploration, and Roger Williams University researchers will be on hand with autonomous ground vehicles. The event also hosts a range of robotic competitions involving students from elementary school through college.

Business and industry exhibitors include Hasbro, iRobot (makers of the Roomba), Gibson Engineering and others.

The party has grown each year since it debuted in 2014. Last year more than 3,000 people took in the festivities.

Note to Editors:

Editors: Brown University has a fiber link television studio available for domestic and international live and taped interviews, and maintains an ISDN line for radio interviews. For more information, call (401) 863-2476.